Switch.



. PATENTED JULY 28, 1908. B. G. WA'I'KINS.

K SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Afro/mers y No. 894,553." PATBNTED JULY 28, 1908.

B. G. WATKINs.

SWITCH. n APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 12, 1907.

v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@Liz

A TTOHNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN G. WATKINS, OF NEHAWKA, NEBRASKA', ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO JULIAN A.. j

POLLARD, SR., AND ONE-THIRD TO JULIAN A. POLLAIVtD, JR., OF NEHAWIIA, NEBRASKA.

SWITCH.

Speccation` of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN G. WAT- KINs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Nehawka, in the county of Cass and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and Im roved Switch, of which the following is a ful clear, and exact descri tion.

This invention relates to 'switches and is particularly useful in connection with overhead or suspended track rails.

An obj ect of the invention is to provide a simple, strong and durable switch for overhead, single track, tram or railway systems such as are used in storage-warehouses, packing houses and the like, by means of which a car can be easily and smoothly guided from one track to another.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described, for guiding a car from one track to another which is provided with a guard serving as va stop, `to prevent the passing of a car beyond a certain point of the track when the switch is open with respect to that track.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to bemore fully described hereinafter and forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofvthis specification, in which similar characters. of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which j Figure 1 is a perspective view of my switch; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing certain parts in different positions.; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the switch, showing a car-wheel passing over the same; Fig. 4 is a transverse section showing parts in different positions from those shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a part of the device Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the movable switch member or point; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the switch showing parts in transverse section; Fig. 8 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 7, with parts of the switch in different positions; Fig. 9 is a perspective view-of an operating member by means of which the switch is controlled; and Fig. l0 is a transverse section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 2, showing parts broken away. j

Beforeproceeding to a more detailed eX- planation of my invention it shouldbe underparticularly set stood that the device is particularly useful in connection with overhead tracks for tram- `Ways or carriers such'as are used in storagewhich the wheels of the suspended cars travel. The latter are hung upon the wheels in any vsuitable manner and the rails are carried by hangers secured to suitable supports. In my switch, I employ a switch frame presenting a gap. The ends of adjacent main track rails are located near the opposite ends of the gap. A movable `switch member is pivotally mounted in the gap and provides means for so bridging the ga that the car can travel uninterruptedly a ong the main track and across the gap formed in the main track by the switch frame. At the same time the movable switch member or point has a laterally disposed portion which is4 adapted in a certain position of the movable member to guide a car from the main track to anA adjacent branch track. When the switch is closed with respect to the main track, that is when the arrangement is such that a car can travel uninterru tedly along the main track, a guard contro lable simultaneously with the switch member extends over the adjacent branch track and acts as a stop for a car traveling along the branch track toward the switch. In this way, when the switch is open with res ect to the branch track, a car cannot pass 'rom the latter to the main track, and thereby the danger of an accident due to the running of the car into the o en switch is obviated.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I provide main track rails 1, which may be of any suitable form. Preferably, the

maintrack rails are formed by elongated. plates arranged in substantially verticall ermit the wheels of the cars tov li The rails arel supported by suitable hangers whichdependV from the roof of the building or are mountedplanes to roll upon t e flat upper edges.

uponsuitable supports. The hangers 2 may be of preferred or common form, and, as shown in the accompanying drawings, have Y longitudinal strengthening webs 8, and at the lower ends, laterally disposed rail supports 4 which engage at the under edgesl of the rails or other track bars, to support the same. I

employ a switch frame 5 centrally recessed 5 to form a gap 6. The switch frame 5 has at the ends, extensions 7 at which are mounted the extremities of adjacent main track rails 1 by means of rivets 8, or in any other suitable manner. The gap 6 has the lower edge 10 formed into a seat 9, and is provided with a transverse shaft 10, for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. Adjacent to the switch frame 5 is located the end of a branch track rail 11 which is preferably of similar construction to the main track rails.

A movable switch member 12 is arranged within the gap 6 by means of a laterally extended longitudinal opening 13 therethrough which receives the shaft 10. By means of the shaft 10 the switch member is revolubly arranged within the gap and serves to project over the same when in one position. The arrangement is such that in one position of the switch member a longitudinal edge 14 of the same extends across the gap with the upper edges of the switch Jframe and the adjacent main track rails thereby presenting an uninterrupted surface for the passage of the car-wheels across the switch. The switch member 12 has a curved laterally disposed extension 15 presentinga longitudinal edge 16 which is 'lush with the upper edges of the main track rails in a certain position of the switch member. At the same time, in this -position of the switch member the extension '15 joins the branch track rail with one of the main track rails, permitting the uninterrupted passage of a car Jfrom the branch track to the main track and vice versa. The

adjacent extremity of the branch track is cut away to form a shoulder 17 which engages the extension 15 and constitutes a support therefor. It will be understood that the pivoted switch member can be rotated freely upon the shaft 10 and that when the edge 14 is in an inoperative position the edge 16 is operative, and vice versa.

A switch. lever 18 is pivoted by means of a suitable bearing bolt 19 at a rail hanger 2 adjacent to the switch frame, and has an arm 20 provided with a controllin rod 21 by means et which the lever can e operated. The lever 18 has an extended portion 22 presenting shoulders 23 and 24 at the sides thereof, respectively, and intermediate of the shoulders, projections 25 and 26. The arrangement of the parts is such that the lever 18 is in operative engagement with the `pivoted switch member, and serves to control the same. When the switch is open with respect to the main track as shown in Fig. 2, a projection 27 of the switch member 12 is arranged to go between the adjacent shoulder 24 and projection 26 of the lever 18, and is held against accidental movement thereby. When it is desired to close the switch with respect to the main track, the arm 20 of the lever 18 is depressed by means of the rod 21, whereby the extended portion 22 is swung downwardly, the projections 26 and 25 and the shoulder 23 ot the lever, successively engaging the projection 27, a. shoulder 28 and a second projection 29 ot the switch member 12. The projection 29 is located at the opposite side ot tlwswitch member to the projection 27 of the shoulder 28, intermediate of the projections 27 and 29. By this operative arrangement otl the lever with the switch member the latter is reversed pivotally about the shal't 1() and the switch is thereby closed with respect to the main track, the extension 15 being located in an operative position to connect the main track and the branch track. ln this position the switch member is held against accidental movement by the projection 25 and the shoulder 23 oll the lever which are arranged at opposite sides ot the projection 29 of the switch member.

The lever 18 has a pin extension 3() which operatively engages the slotted end 31 of a link 32. The end of the link 32 opposite to the slot 33 is biturcated and is pivoted by means of a-bolt 34 to the end ot" a swinging guard 35. rlhe guard 35 is pivotally mounted by means ot a bolt 36 upon a hanger ad jacent to the switch and has an` arm 37 adapted to be extended across thel branch track to serve as a stop `for cars traveling thereupon, when the switch is open with respect to the branch track. .lt will be umlerstmul that the guard is controllable simultaneously with the switch member and the arrangement ol the parts is such that when the switch is open with respect to the branch track the guard is in an operatlve position. ln this position, the wheels of the cars traveling along the main track can pass underneath the guard arm 37. When the switch is open. with respect to the main track, the guard is disposed in an inoperative position. and permits the movement otE cars from the branch track to the main track. The link which connects the lever 18 and the guard 35 is so mounted to the same by means of its slotted and bil'ure cated ends that the parts have a certain amount of' play which permits easy and accurate adjustment.

The longitudinal opening .13 oi the pivoted switch member 12 is substantially oval in Across-section and does not tit snugly upon the shaft 10; this coi'lstruction permits a certain necessary play ot the switch member whereby is avoided binding of the parts in the operation of the switch.

Having thus described my invention, l* claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A switch, comprising a main track seetion presenting a gap, a branch track sect ion,

a movable member arrangedin said gap and adapted to close the same and to connect the main track and the branch track in different positions respectively, an. operating member pivotally mounted adjacent to said frame and controlling said member, guard means for blocking the branch track, and a linkoperatively connecting said guard means and said operating member. j

2. switch, comprising a main track section having a gap, a branch track section, a member pivotally mounted in said gap and formed to close said gap When in a predetermined position, said pivoted member having a lateral extension adapted to connect one of the main track rails and the branch track rail when said member is in a second predetermined position, a pivoted operating member having projections, said member having a plurality of projections adapted to be successively engaged by said projections of said operating member when the latter is actuated, whereby said first member is swung about its pivot.

3. A switch, comprising a frame presenting a gap and adapted to be located at aV point of the main track, a movable member pivoted in said gap and adaptedto close the same and to connect the main track and a branch track, in different positions respectively, an operating member pivotally mounted adjacent to said frame and controlling said pivoted member, a movable guard adapted to be projected over the branch track, and a link operatively connecting said guard and said operating member.

4. A switch, comprising a frame presenting a gap and adapted to have main track rails arranged at the opposite ends thereof, a pivoted member mounted in said gap and adapted to close the same, said pivoted member having a lateral extension adapted to be arranged adjacent to a branch track rail, an operating member pivotally mounted adjacent to said frame, a movable guard adapted to be projected over the branch track rail, and a link operatively connecting sai dguard and said operating member.

5.*A switch, comprising a switch frame having a gap, a pivoted member arranged within saidV gap and adapted to close the same, said pivoted member having a laterally disposed extension., a pivoted operating member, a movable guard, and a link operatively connecting said guard and said operating member, said operating member having a projection adapted to engage said pivoted member, said switch framebeing adapted to be arranged at a main track adjacent to a branch track.

6. A switch, comprising a frame adapted to be mounted at the ends'of separated main track rails adjacent to a branch track rail, said frame having a gap and a shaft in said gap, a member pivotally mounted upon said shaft and formed to close said gap when in a predetermined position, said pivoted member having a lateral extension adapted to connect one of the -main track rails and the branch track rail when said member is in another position, and `a pivoted operating member having a plurality of projections arranged successively to engage said first member when said operating member is actuated whereby said first member is swung about said shaft, lone of said projections serving to hold said first member in position.

7. Aswitch, comprising aframe adapted to 'be mounted at the ends of separated main track rails adjacent to a branch track rail, said frame having a gap and a shaft in said gap, a member pivotally mounted upon said shaft and formed to close said gap when in a predetermined osition, said pivoted member having a lateralliextension adapted to connect one of the main track rails and the branch track railwhen said member is in another position, a pivoted operating member having a plurality of projections arranged successively to engage said first member when said operating member is actuated whereby said irst member is swung about said shaft, one of said 1 projections serving to hold said first member in position, a guard movably mounted and adapted to be projected over the branch track rail, and a link operatively connecting said guard and said operating member.

8. A switch, comprising a frame adapted to be mounted at the ends of separated main track rails adjacent to a branch track rail, said frame having a gap and a shaft in said gap, a member pivotally mounted upon said shaft and formed to close said gap'when in a predetermined position, said pivoted member having a lateral extension adapted to connect one of the main track rails and the branch track rail when said member is in another position, a pivoted operating member having projections, said first member having j a plurality of projections adapted to be successively engaged by corresponding proj ections of said operating member when the latter is actuated, whereby said first member is swung about said shaft.

9. A switch, comprising a frame vadapted to be mounted at the ends of separated main track rails adjacent to a branch track rail, said frame having a gap and a shaft in said gap, a member pivotally mounted upon said shaft and formed to close said gap when in a predetermined position, said pivoted mem-v ber having a lateral extension adaptedv to connect one of the main track rails and the branch track rail when said member is in another position, a pivoted operating member having a plurality of projections, said first member having a plurality of projections adapted to be successively engaged by said projections of said operating member when the latter is actuated, whereby said first member is swung about said shaft, a projection In testimony whereof I have signed my of said operatingmember serving to hold said name to this speciiication in the presence of first member in position, apivoted guard havtwo subscribing Witnesses.

ing an arm adapted to be projected over the BENJAMIN G. IVATKINS. branch track rail, and a link pivoted to said Vitnesses:

guard, said link having a slotted end opera- JAMES M. PALMER,

tively engaging said operating member. DAVID C. WEST. 

